Sample analyzer and liquid aspirating method

ABSTRACT

A sample analyzer is configured to execute a liquid surface detection of detecting a liquid surface in a container by a liquid surface detector prior to a lowering operation of an aspirating tube for aspirating the liquid if a liquid level information is not stored in a memory, and store a liquid level information of a container in the memory based on a detection result by the liquid surface detection. Also, a liquid aspirating method by a sample analyzer.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/166,439, filed on Jun. 22, 2011, which claims the benefit of priorityfrom prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-144066 filed on Jun. 24,2010, entitled “SAMPLE ANALYZER AND LIQUID ASPIRATING METHOD”, theentire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sample analyzer for analyzing samplessuch as blood and urine, and to a liquid aspirating method of aspiratingliquid such as sample or reagent for sample analysis.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a sample analyzer for aspirating liquid by an aspiratingtube from a container accommodating the liquid such as sample or reagentis known (see e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2009-180605).

For the purpose of efficient reagent aspirating process, the sampleanalyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication NO.2009-180605 sets a lowering speed switching height for switching a speedof lowering a reagent aspirating nozzle by adding a margin value to aheight of a reagent in a reagent bottle, lowers at high speed thereagent nozzle to the lowering speed switching height, and lowers at lowspeed the reagent nozzle from the lowering speed switching height to thereagent in the reagent bottle. In the sample analyzer disclosed inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication NO. 2009-180605, an initial liquidlevel of the reagent in the reagent bottle is stored in a memory inadvance according to a type of the reagent bottle. Unless an aspirationof the reagent has been performed from the reagent bottle, the loweringspeed switching height is set using the initial liquid level stored inthe memory. Then the reagent nozzle is lowered at high speed to the setlowering speed switching height, and the reagent nozzle is lowered atlow speed from the lowering speed switching height.

However, in the sample analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 2009-180605, the size of the reagent bottle varies dueto machining error of the reagent bottle or the like even with the sametype of the reagent bottle, and thus an actual initial liquid level maydiffer from the initial liquid level stored in the memory and thereagent nozzle may enter into the reagent while lowering at high speed.To prevent this, the margin value used for a setting of the loweringspeed switching height needs to be greatly ensured. As a result, thelowering speed switching height is set at a high position. Therefore, itmay become difficult to perform a reagent aspirating operation rapidly.

In view of such aspects, it is a main object of the present invention toprovide a sample analyzer and a liquid aspirating method enabling toperform a liquid aspirating operation more rapidly than the prior artwhen a liquid level is unknown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appendedclaims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within thissummary.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sample analyzercomprising:

a liquid aspirating unit that includes an aspirating tube and anactuator for moving the aspirating tube in an up and down direction, andthat aspirates a liquid for a sample analysis using the aspirating tubefrom a container;

a liquid surface detector for detecting a liquid surface in thecontainer;

a memory for storing a liquid level information indicating a liquidlevel in the container based on a detection result by the liquid surfacedetector; and

a controller for controlling a speed for lowering the aspirating tubewith respect to the liquid surface in the container by the actuatorbased on the liquid level information stored in the memory, andcontrolling the liquid aspirating unit to aspirate the liquid from thecontainer with the aspirating tube, wherein

the controller executes a liquid surface detection of detecting theliquid surface in the container by the liquid surface detector prior toa lowering operation of the aspirating tube for aspirating the liquid ifthe liquid level information is not stored in the memory, and stores aliquid level information of the container in the memory based on adetection result by the liquid surface detection.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a liquidaspirating method by a sample analyzer including an aspirating tube foraspirating a liquid for a sample analysis from a container, and a memoryfor storing a liquid level information indicating a liquid level in thecontainer, wherein the liquid aspirating method comprising steps of:

(i) if the liquid level information is stored in the memory, controllinga speed for lowering the aspirating tube with respect to the liquidsurface in the container based on the liquid level information stored inthe memory and aspirating the liquid from the container with theaspirating tube; and

(ii) if the liquid level information is not stored in the memory, (a)executing a liquid surface detection of detecting the liquid surface inthe container prior to a lowering operation of the aspirating tube foraspirating the liquid, and (b) storing the liquid level information ofthe container in the memory based on a detection result by the liquidsurface detection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sampleanalyzer according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the interiorof a measurement device when viewed from an upward direction;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a configuration of a firstcontainer rack;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a configuration of a secondcontainer rack;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of a first reagentdispensing unit;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of ameasurement device;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the informationprocessing device;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the registering operation ofthe reagent information;

FIG. 8A is a schematic view showing a configuration of a first reagentinformation database;

FIG. 8B is a schematic view showing a configuration of a second reagentinformation database;

FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a state of a table cover in whichreplacement or addition of the reagent is not carried out;

FIG. 9B is a plan view showing a state of the table cover in whichreplacement or addition of the reagent is carried out;

FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU ofthe information processing device in the sample analyzing operation;

FIG. 10B is a flowchart (first half) showing the processing procedure ofthe CPU of the measurement device in the sample analyzing operation;

FIG. 10C is a flowchart (second half) showing the processing procedureof the CPU of the measurement device in the sample analyzing operation;

FIG. 11 is a timing chart partially showing one example of the schedulefor sample measurement;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the initial liquid leveldetection control process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the sample dispensingcontrol process; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the reagent dispensingcontrol process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of Sample Analyzer]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sampleanalyzer 1 according to the present embodiment. The sample analyzer 1 isconfigured by a measurement device 2 for optically measuring a componentcontained in a sample (blood), and an information processing device 3for analyzing the measurement data by the measurement device 2 andgiving an operation instruction to the measurement device 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the interiorof the measurement device 2 when viewed from an upward direction. Themeasurement device 2 is configured by a measurement unit 10, a detectionunit 40, and a transport unit 50.

The measurement unit 10 includes a first reagent table 11, a secondreagent table 12, a first container rack 13, a second container rack 14,a cuvette table 15, a warming table 16, a table cover 17, a first sampledispensing unit 21, a second sample dispensing unit 22, a first reagentdispensing unit 23, a second reagent dispensing unit 24, a third reagentdispensing unit 25, a first catcher unit 26, a second catcher unit 27, athird catcher unit 28, a reagent barcode reader 31, a cuvette transportunit 32, a diluted solution transport unit 33, a cuvette port 34, anddiscarding ports 35, 36.

As shown in FIG. 1, the measurement device 2 includes a cover 37. Thecover 37 can be opened and closed, where the user can access the firstreagent table 11, the second reagent table 12, the cuvette table 15, thewarming table 16, the table cover 17, and the detection unit 40 byopening the cover 37. The cover 37 includes a lock mechanism 37 a, sothat the cover 37 can be locked with the lock mechanism 37 a. That is,when the cover 37 is in the locked state, the access of the user to thefirst reagent table 11, the second reagent table 12, the cuvette table15, the warming table 16, the table cover 17, and the detection unit 40is prohibited.

The first reagent table 11, the second reagent table 12, the cuvettetable 15, and the warming table 16 are circular tables, and arerotatably driven independently in both clockwise direction andcounterclockwise direction. The rotational drive of such tables iscarried out by a plurality of stepping motors (not shown) arranged onthe back side of the lower surface.

As shown in the figure, five first container racks 13 and five secondcontainer racks 14 are removably arranged on the upper surface of thefirst reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12, respectively.The first container rack 13 and the second container rack 14 are formedwith a holder for holding the reagent container.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a configuration of the firstcontainer rack 13. The first container rack 13 includes two holders 131,132 for holding a cylindrical reagent container 200, cutouts 131 a, 132a arranged on the front surface side of the holders 131, 132,respectively, and a gripping portion 133 arranged to project to theupper side. The holders 131, 132 have the accommodating portion formedto a recess having a substantially circular shape in plan view to beable to hold to the reagent container 200.

The barcode labels 131 b, 132 b are attached to the outer peripheralsurfaces of the holders 131, 132, respectively. The barcode label isalso attached to the inner peripheral surface of the holder 131, 132.The barcode label 200 a is attached to the reagent container 200. In thefigure, only the barcode label 132 c of the barcodes attached to theinner peripheral surface of the holders 131, 132 is shown.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a configuration of the secondcontainer rack 14. The second container rack 14 includes six holders 141to 146 for holding a cylindrical reagent container 200, cutouts 141 a to146 a arranged on the front surface side of the holders 141 to 146,respectively, and a gripping portion 147 arranged to project to theupper side. The holders 141 to 146 have the accommodating portion formedto a recess having a substantially circular shape in plan view to beable to hold to the reagent container 200.

The barcode labels 141 b to 146 b are attached to the outer peripheralsurfaces of the holders 141 to 146, respectively. The barcode label isalso attached to the inner peripheral surface of the holder 141 to 146.The barcode label 200 a is attached to the reagent container 200. In thefigure, only the barcode labels 142 c, 143 c of the barcode labelsattached to the inner peripheral surface of the holders 141 to 146 areshown.

When the barcode of the reagent held in the first reagent table 11 andthe second reagent table 12 is read, the first reagent table 11 and thesecond reagent table 12 rotated in a predetermined direction and speed,so that the barcode of the barcode label attached to the outerperipheral surface of the holders of the first container rack 13 or thesecond container rack 14 is read by the barcode reader 31. Therefore, inwhich holder of which container rack the relevant holder is arranged canbe recognized.

Thereafter, the barcode positioned at the cutout of the relevant holderis read. In this case, the barcode of the barcode label attached to thereagent container 200 is read if the reagent container 200 isaccommodated, and the barcode of the barcode label attached to the innerperipheral surface of the holder is read if the reagent container 200 isnot accommodated. Whether or not the reagent container 200 is held inthe holder can be recognized in such manner. Furthermore, if the reagentcontainer 200 is held in the holder, the type of reagent accommodated inthe reagent container 200 is identified by the barcode information readfrom the barcode of the barcode label 200 a. The holding position andthe type of reagent obtained in such manner are stored in correspondenceto each other.

Returning back to FIG. 2, the cuvette table 15 and the warming table 16are respectively formed with a plurality of cuvette holding holes 15 a1, 16 a along the circumference, as shown in the figure. When thecuvette is set in the cuvette holding hole 15 a 1, 16 a, the relevantcuvette moves through the circumference position in accordance with therotation of the cuvette table 15 and the warming table 16, respectively.The warming table 16 warms the cuvette set in the holding hole 16 a at apredetermined temperature.

The table cover 17 is arranged to cover the upper surfaces of the firstreagent table 11, the second reagent table 12, and the cuvette table 15.The table cover 17 is configured to be bendable at the central portionso that only the first half of the first reagent table 11, the secondreagent table 12, and the cuvette table 15 can be opened. The tablecover 17 includes a plurality of holes (not shown). The first sampledispensing unit 21, the second sample dispensing unit 22, the firstreagent dispensing unit 23, the second reagent dispensing unit 24, andthe third reagent dispensing unit 25 dispense the reagent through theplurality of holes.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of the first reagentdispensing unit 23. As shown in the figure, the first reagent dispensingunit 23 includes a drive unit 23 a, an arm 23 b, and a pipette 23 c. Thedrive unit 23 a includes a rotation motor 231, a raising and loweringmotor 232, and a transmission mechanism 234 for transmitting the powerof the rotation motor 231 and the raising and lowering motor 232 to ashaft 233. The transmission mechanism 234 is configured by a belttransmission mechanism or a rack pinion mechanism for directlyconverting the rotation power of the raising and lowering motor 232 to alinear power in the up and down direction and transmitting to the shaft233 such as a belt transmission mechanism or a gear mechanism forreducing the rotation power of the rotation motor 231 and transmittingto the shaft 233. The rotation direction and the rotation amount of therotation motor 231 are detected by a rotary encoder 235, and therotation direction and the rotation amount (i.e., up and down movementdirection and movement amount of pipette 23 c) of the raising andlowering motor 232 are detected by a rotary encoder 236.

A contact type capacitance sensor 23 d for detecting that the distal endof the pipette 23 c is contacting the liquid surface is connected to thepipette 23 c of the first reagent dispensing unit 23. When the sample isaspirated by the pipette 23 c, the pipette 23 c is lowered and broughtinto contact with the liquid surface of the sample, and the detectionsignal is output from the capacitance sensor 23 d.

The configurations of the first sample dispensing unit 21, the secondsample dispensing unit 22, the second reagent dispensing unit 24, andthe third reagent dispensing unit 25 are similar to the configuration ofthe first reagent dispensing unit 23, and thus the description will beomitted.

Returning back to FIG. 2, the first catcher unit 26 is configured by asupporting portion 26 a for supporting an arm 26 b, an extendable arm 26b, and a grip portion 26 c. The supporting portion 26 a is rotatablydriven by a stepping motor 315 a (see FIG. 5) arranged on the back sideof the lower surface. The grip portion 26 c is attached to the distalend of the arm 26 b and can grip the cuvette. The second catcher unit 27has a configuration similar to the first catcher unit 26, and is rotatedby the stepping motor 315 b (see FIG. 5).

The third catcher unit 28 is configured by a supporting portion 28 a forsupporting an arm 28 b, an extendable arm 28 b, and a grip portion 28 cattached to the distal end of the arm 28 b, as shown in the figure. Thesupporting portion 28 a is driven along a rail arranged in the left andright direction. The grip portion 28 c can grip the cuvette.

The reagent barcode reader 31 reads the barcode labels attached to thefirst container rack 13 and the second container rack 14, and thebarcode label 200 a attached to the reagent container 200 accommodatedin such racks.

The cuvette transport unit 32 and the diluted solution transport unit 33are driven on the rail in the left and right direction. The cuvettetransport unit 32 and the diluted solution transport unit 33respectively includes a hole for holding the cuvette and the dilutedsolution container.

A new cuvette is always supplied to the cuvette port 34. The new cuvetteis set in the hole for holding the cuvette of the cuvette transport unit32 and the cuvette holding hole 15 a of the cuvette table 15 by thefirst catcher unit 26 and the second catcher unit 27. The discardingports 351, 36 are holes for discarding the cuvettes which analysis isterminated and is no longer necessary.

The detection unit 40 includes 20 holding holes 41 for accommodating thecuvette at the upper surface, and includes a detection unit (not shown)on the back side of the lower surface. When the cuvette is set in theholding hole 41, the optical information is detected by the detectionunit from the measurement specimen in the cuvette.

The transport unit 50 includes a transport path 51 and a sample barcodereader 52. The bottom surface of the transport path 51 includes apre-analysis rack holding region on the right side, a transport regionat the middle, and a post-analysis rack holding region on the left side,and is formed to a horseshoe shape. The sample barcode reader 52 readsthe barcode of the barcode label attached to the sample container 61accommodated in the sample rack 60 transported through the transportregion.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of themeasurement device 2.

The measurement device 2 includes a control unit 300, a reagent barcodereader 31, a sample barcode reader 52, a reagent table stepping motorunit 311, a dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312, a cuvette tablestepping motor 313, a warming table stepping motor 314, a catcher unitstepping motor unit 315, a reagent table rotary encoder unit 321, adispensing unit rotary encoder unit 322, a liquid surface sensor unit323, a reagent table origin sensor unit 331, a dispensing unit originsensor unit 332, and a lock mechanism 37 a. The control unit 300includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a hard disc 304, acommunication interface 305, and an I/O interface 306.

The CPU 301 executes computer programs stored in the ROM 302 and thecomputer programs loaded in the RAM 303. The RAM 303 is used to read outthe computer programs recorded on the ROM 302 and the hard disc 304. TheRAM 303 is also used as a work region of the CPU 301 when executing thecomputer program. The hard disc 304 is installed with various computerprograms to be executed by the CPU 301 such as operating system andapplication program, as well as data used in executing the computerprogram. That is, the hard disc 404 is installed with a control programfor causing the CPU 301 to control each unit of the measurement device2. The transmission and reception of data can be carried out withrespect to the information processing device 3 by the communicationinterface 305.

The CPU 301 controls the reagent barcode reader 31, the sample barcodereader 52, the reagent table stepping motor unit 311, the dispensingunit stepping motor unit 312, the reagent table rotary encoder unit 321,the dispensing unit rotary encoder unit 322, the liquid surface sensorunit 323, the reagent table origin sensor unit 331, and the dispensingunit origin sensor unit 332 through the I/O interface.

The reagent table stepping motor unit 311 is configured by a pluralityof stepping motors for rotatably driving the first reagent table 11 andthe second reagent table 12 independent from each other. The dispensingunit stepping motor unit 312 is configured by a rotation motor 231 and araising and lowering motor 232 of the first reagent dispensing unit 23,as well as a rotation motor and a raising and lowering motor of thefirst sample dispensing unit 21, the second sample dispensing unit 22,the second reagent dispensing unit 24, and the third reagent dispensingunit 25. Such rotation motor and raising and lowering motor are steppingmotors.

The cuvette table stepping motor 313 is configured by a stepping motorfor rotatably driving the cuvette table 15. The warming table steppingmotor 314 is configured by a stepping motor for rotatably driving thewarming table 16. The catcher unit stepping motor unit 315 is configuredby a plurality of stepping motors for rotating the first catcher unit 26and the second catcher unit 27.

The reagent table rotary encoder unit 321 is configured by a pluralityof rotary encoders capable of detecting rotation direction and rotationamount of the plurality of stepping motors included in the reagent tablestepping motor unit 311 respectively. The reagent table origin sensorunit 331 is configured by a plurality of origin sensors for detectingthat the rotations positions of the plurality of stepping motorsincluded in the reagent table stepping motor unit 311 are originpositions respectively. The CPU 301 receives output signals of thereagent table rotary encoder unit 321 and the reagent table originsensor unit 331 to recognize how many times the first reagent table 11and the second reagent table 12 each rotated in the clockwise directionor the counterclockwise direction from the origin position.

The dispensing unit rotary encoder unit 322 is configured by the rotaryencoders 235, 236 of the first reagent dispensing unit 23, as well asthe rotary encoder of each of the first sample dispensing unit 21, thesecond sample dispensing unit 22, the second reagent dispensing unit 24,and the third reagent dispensing unit 25. That is, the dispensing unitrotary encoder unit 322 is configured by a plurality of rotary encoderscapable of detecting rotation direction and rotation amount of theplurality of stepping motors included in the dispensing unit steppingmotor unit 312 respectively. The dispensing unit origin sensor unit 332is configured by a plurality of origin sensors for detecting that therotation positions of the plurality of stepping motors included in thedispensing unit stepping motor unit 312 are origin positionsrespectively. The CPU 301 receives output signals of the dispensing unitrotary encoder unit 322 and the dispensing unit origin sensor unit 332to recognize how many times the arms 21 a, 22 a, 23 a, 24 a, 25 a of thefirst sample dispensing unit 21, the second sample dispensing unit 22,the first reagent dispensing unit 23, the second reagent dispensing unit24, and the third reagent dispensing unit 25 each rotated in theclockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction from the originposition, and to what extent the arms moved to the upper side or thelower side from the origin position (reference height) in the heightdirection.

The liquid surface sensor 323 is configured by the capacitance sensor 23d of the first reagent dispensing unit 23, as well as the capacitancesensors of the first sample dispensing unit 21, the second sampledispensing unit 22, the second reagent dispensing unit 24, and the thirdreagent dispensing unit 25. The CPU 301 receives an output signal of theliquid surface sensor unit 323 to recognize whether or not the pipettes21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 24 c, 25 c of the first sample dispensing unit 21, thesecond sample dispensing unit 22, the first reagent dispensing unit 23,the second reagent dispensing unit 24, and the third reagent dispensingunit 25 contacted the liquid surface.

The lock mechanism 37 a is arranged to prohibit the opening of the cover37 of the measurement device 2. The lock mechanism 37 a is configured bya solenoid coil, or the like. The CPU 301 can ON/OFF control the lockmechanism, so that the prohibition/permission of the opening of thecover 37 can be controlled.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the informationprocessing device 3.

The information processing device 3 includes a personal computer, and isconfigured by a main body 400, an input unit 408, and a display unit409. The main body 400 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, a harddisc 404, a readout device 405, an input/output interface 406, an imageoutput interface 407, and a communication interface 410.

The CPU 401 executes computer programs stored in the ROM 402 and thecomputer programs loaded in the RAM 402. The RAM 403 is used to read outthe computer programs recorded on the ROM 402 and the hard disc 404. TheRAM 403 is also used as a work region of the CPU 401 when executing thecomputer program.

The hard disc 404 is installed with various computer programs to beexecuted by the CPU 401 such as operating system and applicationprogram, as well as data used in executing the computer program. Thatis, the hard disc 404 is installed with a computer program for causingthe computer to function as the information processing device accordingto the present embodiment.

The readout device 405 is configured by a CD drive, a DVD drive, or thelike, and can read out the computer program and the data recorded in therecording medium. The input unit 408 including mouse and keyboard isconnected to the input/output interface 406, so that the user can usethe input unit 408 to input data to the information processing device 3.The image output interface 407 is connected to a display unit 409configured by a CRT, a liquid crystal panel, or the like, and outputs avideo signal corresponding to the image data to the display unit 409.The display unit 409 displays images based on the input video signal.The information processing device 3 can transmit and receive data withrespect to the measurement device 2 by the communication interface 410.

[Operation of Sample Analyzer]

The operation of the sample analyzer 1 according to the presentembodiment will be described below.

<Analyzing Procedure for Every Sample>

First, the procedure for analyzing the sample will be described. Theanalyzing procedure of the sample differs depending on the measurementitem (PT, APTT, etc.) of the sample. The measurement item of the sampleis specified by the measurement order. In the sample analyzer 1, themeasurement order can be registered by the user, and the measurementorder can be accepted from the server device (not shown). That is, whenregistering the measurement order, the user operates the input unit 408of the information processing device 3 to input the measurement order tothe sample analyzer 1. When accepting the measurement order from theserver device, the user registers the measurement order in the serverdevice in advance.

The sample rack 60 accommodating a plurality of sample containers 61 isset in the pre-analysis rack holding region of the transport path 51 bythe user. The sample rack 60 is moved to the back side in thepre-analysis rack holding region, and then moved towards the left in thetransport region. In this case, the barcode label attached to the samplecontainer 61 is read by the sample barcode reader 52. The sample ID isrecorded in the barcode of the sample container 61, and the informationprocessing device 3 acquires the measurement order of the sample withthe read sample ID as the key. That is, the measurement ordercorresponding to the sample ID is read from the hard disc 404 of theinformation processing device 3 if the measurement order is registeredin the sample analyzer 1 by the user, and the sample ID is transmittedfrom the information processing device 3 to the server device if themeasurement order is acquired from the server device so that the serverdevice then transmits the measurement order corresponding to thereceived sample ID to the information processing device 3 and theinformation processing device 3 receives the measurement order.

The sample rack 60 is then positioned at a predetermined place in thetransport region. After the aspiration of the sample is finished in thetransport region, the sample rack 60 is moved towards the left in thetransport region and then moved to the front side in the post-analysisrack holding region.

The first sample dispensing unit 21 aspirates the sample of the samplecontainer 61 positioned at a predetermined sample aspirating position 53of the transport region of the transport path 51. The sample aspiratedby the first sample dispensing unit 21 is discharged to a cuvette set inthe cuvette holding hole 15 a positioned at a sample dischargingposition 18 at the front side position of the cuvette table 15.

The second sample dispensing unit 22 aspirates the sample accommodatedin the cuvette at the sample aspirating position 19 or the sample of thesample container 61 positioned at a predetermined sample aspiratingposition 54 of the transport region of the transport path 51. The sampleaspirated by the second sample dispensing unit 22 is discharged to acuvette set in the cuvette transport unit 32. The second sampledispensing unit 22 can aspirate the diluted solution set in the dilutedsolution transport unit 33. In this case, the sample dispensing unit 22aspirates the diluted solution at the diluted solution aspiratingposition 37 before aspirating the sample, and then aspirates the sampleat the sample aspirating position 19 or 54.

When the measurement order including a plurality of measurement items isacquired for one sample, the sample is divided into cuvettes for thenumber of measurement items from the cuvette set in the cuvette holdinghole 15 a of the cuvette table 15. Each cuvette corresponds to themeasurement item one by one, and the sample divided into the cuvette ismeasured for the measurement item corresponding to the relevant cuvette.

The cuvette transport unit 32 is driven towards the right on the rail ata predetermined timing when the sample is discharged (divided) to theaccommodated cuvette. The cuvette accommodating the sample set in thecuvette transport unit 32 is then gripped by the first catcher unit 26,and set in the cuvette holding hole 16 a of the warming table 16. Thesample accommodated in the cuvette is warmed for a time corresponding tothe measurement item in the warming table 16. For instance, the sampleis warmed for three minutes if the measurement item is PT, and thesample is warmed for one minute if the measurement item is APTT.

After the sample is warmed, the reagent is mixed to the sample. Whetherthe sample mixed with the reagent is measured by the detection unit 40or again warmed differs depending on the measurement item. For instance,if the measurement item is the PT, the PT reagent is dispensed to thecuvette accommodating the warmed sample, and thereafter, opticallymeasured in the detection unit 40.

In this case, the cuvette held in the cuvette holding hole 16 a of thewarming table 16 is gripped by the third catcher unit 28, and positionedat the reagent discharging position 39 a or 39 b. The reagent in thepredetermined reagent container 200 arranged in the first reagent table11 or the second reagent table 12 is aspirated by the second reagentdispensing unit 24 or the third reagent dispensing unit 25, and thereagent is discharged at the reagent discharging position 39 a or 39 b.After the reagent is discharged in such manner, the third catcher unit28 sets the cuvette to which the reagent is discharged in the holdinghole 41 of the detection unit 40. Thereafter, the optical information isdetected from the measurement specimen accommodated in the cuvette inthe detection unit 40.

A case in which the reagent is mixed to the warmed sample and againwarmed will now be described. For instance, if the measurement item isthe APTT, the APTT reagent is dispensed to the cuvette accommodating thewarmed sample, and thereafter, warmed again for two minutes in thewarming table 16. Thereafter, calcium chloride solution is dispensedinto the cuvette, and optical measurement is carried out in thedetection unit 40. In the case of the measurement item for warming thesample twice, the sample is warmed for a predetermined time in thewarming table 16, and then the second catcher unit 27 grips the cuvetteaccommodating the sample set in the holding hole 16 a, and moves thesame to the reagent discharge position 38. The first reagent dispensingunit 23 aspirates the reagent of the predetermined reagent container 200arranged in the first reagent table 11 or the second reagent table 12,and discharges the reagent at the reagent discharging position 38. Afterthe reagent is discharged, the second catcher unit 27 stirs the relevantcuvette and again sets the same in the cuvette holding hole 16 a of thewarming table.

The cuvette held in the cuvette holding hole 16 a of the warming table16 is gripped by the third catcher unit 28 and positioned at the reagentdischarging position 39 a or 39 b. The second reagent dispensing unit 24or the third reagent dispensing unit 25 aspirates the reagent of thepredetermined reagent container 200 arranged in the first reagent table11 or the second reagent table 12, and discharges the reagent at thereagent discharging position 39 a or 39 b. After the reagent isdischarged in such manner, the third catcher unit 28 sets the cuvette towhich the reagent is discharged in the holding hole 41 of the detectionunit 40. Thereafter, the optical information is detected from themeasurement specimen accommodated in the cuvette in the detection unit40.

The optical information detected by the detection unit 40 is transmittedto the information processing device 3. The CPU 401 of the informationprocessing device 3 processes the acquired optical information andobtains the analysis result of the sample. The analysis result obtainedin such manner is corresponded with the sample information such as thesample ID and stored in the hard disc 404, and output to the displayunit 409.

The cuvette, of which detection by the detection unit 40 is terminatedand which is no longer necessary, is moved to immediately above thediscarding port 35 while being gripped by the third catcher unit 28, andthen discarded to the discarding port 35. When the cuvette held in thecuvette holding hole 15 a of the cuvette table 15 is also terminatedwith the analysis and is no longer necessary, the cuvette table 15 isrotated and positioned to the location close to the second catcher unit27. The second catcher unit 27 grips the cuvette that is no longernecessary and held in the cuvette holding hole 15 a, and discards thesame in the discarding port 36.

<Registering Operation of Reagent Information>

After the sample analyzer 1 is shut down, the reagent set in the firstreagent table and the second reagent table is moved to a refrigerator orthe like and may be saved until the sample analyzer 1 is used the nexttime. Furthermore, the reagent taken out from the sample analyzer 1 maybe replaced with a new reagent or the reagent may be added to thereagent container. Therefore, in the initialization operation executedimmediately after the sample analyzer 1 is started up, the reagentinformation related to the reagent set in the first reagent table andthe second reagent table is registered. The registering operation of therelevant reagent information will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the registering operation ofthe reagent information. In the registering operation of the reagentinformation, the CPU 301 of the measurement device 2 controls thereagent table stepping motor unit 311 to rotatably drive the firstreagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 and position themrespectively at the origin position (step S101). Thereafter, the CPU 301controls the reagent table stepping motor unit 311 to rotate the firstreagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 in a predetermineddirection at a predetermined speed (step S102), and causes the barcodereader 31 to read the barcode label attached to the outer peripheralsurface of the holder of the container rack (step S103). Therefore, inwhich holder of which container rack the relevant holder is arranged canbe recognized.

Thereafter, the CPU 301 controls the reagent table stepping motor unit311 to rotatably drive the first reagent table 11 and the second reagenttable 12 and causes the barcode reader 31 to read the barcode positionedat the cutout of the relevant holder (step S104). In this case, thebarcode label attached to the reagent container 200 is read if thereagent container 200 is accommodated, and the barcode label attached tothe inner peripheral surface of the holder is read if the reagentcontainer 200 is not accommodated. Whether or not the reagent container200 is held in the holder can be recognized in such manner. Furthermore,if the reagent container 200 is held in the holder, the type of reagentaccommodated in the reagent container 200 is identified by the barcodeinformation read from the barcode label 200 a. The CPU 301 stores theinformation specifying the container rack, the information specifyingthe holder, the information on the type of reagent held in the holder(if reagent container is not held, information indicating the same), orthe like obtained in the above manner in the first reagent informationdatabase 500 arranged in the hard disc 304 (step S105). FIG. 8A is aschematic view showing a configuration of the first reagent informationdatabase 500. The first reagent information database 500 includes afield 501 for storing the container rack ID or the informationspecifying the container rack, a field 502 for storing the holder numberor the information specifying the holder of the container rack, a field503 for storing the information on the type of reagent, or the like. Thefirst reagent information database 500 also includes a field 504 forstoring the information on the liquid level of the reagent to bedescribed later. At this time point, no information is stored in thefield 504 since the liquid level of the reagent is not detected evenonce.

The CPU 301 determines whether or not the information is stored in thefirst reagent information database 500 for all holders of all containerracks set in the first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12(step S106), where if the holder in which the storage of information isnot carried out exists (NO in step S106), the process returns to stepS102, and the first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 arerotated to the position where the barcode label of the next holder facesthe barcode reader 31.

If the information is stored in the first reagent information database500 for all the holders of all the container racks set in the firstreagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 in step S106 (YES instep S106), the CPU 301 transmits all information stored in the firstreagent information database 500 to the information processing device 3(step S107), and terminates the process.

When the information processing device 3 receives the reagentinformation, the CPU 401 of the information processing device 3 storesthe reagent information in the second reagent information database 600arranged in the hard disc 404 based on the received information (stepS108), and terminates the process. FIG. 8B is a schematic view showing aconfiguration of the second reagent information database 600. The secondreagent information database 600 includes a field 601 for storing thecontainer rack ID, a field 602 for storing the holder number, a field603 for storing the information on the type of reagent, or the like,similar to the first reagent information database 500. The secondreagent information database 600 also includes a field 604 for storing aliquid level storage flag indicating whether or not the liquid levelinformation is stored in the first reagent information database 500. Inthe reagent information transmitted from the measurement device 2, theliquid level storage flag is set to “1” in the second reagentinformation database 600 for the reagents containing the liquid levelinformation, and the liquid level storage flag is set to “0” in thesecond reagent information database 600 for reagents not containing theliquid level information.

<Reagent Replacement Operation>

The reagent replacement operation of the sample analyzer 1 will now bedescribed. FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a state of the normal tablecover 17 in which replacement or addition of the reagent is not carriedout, and FIG. 9B is a plan view showing a state of the table cover 17 inwhich replacement or addition of the reagent is carried out.

In the measurement device 2 in a state (standby state) waiting for thepower supply to be turned ON and the sample to be measured or in a stateof executing the measurement of the sample, the cover 37 is closed andthe cover 37 is locked by the lock mechanism 37 a, as shown in FIG. 1.In such state, the table cover 17 covers the upper surface of the firstreagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 (hereinafter referredto as “reagent table group”) as well as the cuvette table 15, as shownin FIG. 9A. In this case, the first sample dispensing unit 21, thesecond sample dispensing unit 22, the first reagent dispensing unit 23,the second reagent dispensing unit 24, and the third reagent dispensingunit 25 (hereinafter referred to as “dispensing unit group”) carry outdispensing of the sample or the reagent through a plurality of holesformed in the table cover 17.

When replacing or adding the reagent, the user operates the input unit408 of the information processing device 3 to input the instruction tostart the replacement or the addition of the reagent to the informationprocessing device 3. The CPU 401 of the information processing device 3instructs the measurement device 2 to unlock the cover 37 when receivingthe input. The CPU 301 of the measurement device 2 controls the lockmechanism 37 a to unlock the cover 37, and controls the dispensing unitgroup to evacuate to a position not in the region covered by the tablecover 17 shown in FIG. 9A (hereinafter referred to as “evacuatingposition”) so that the user can open the cover 37.

The user then opens the cover 37 and folds the table cover 17 at thecentral part. Only the reagent table group and the upper half region ofthe cuvette table 15 are then covered by the table cover 17 (portion ofdotted line indicates the region covered by the table cover 17, andportion of chain dashed line indicates the region not covered by thetable cover 17), as shown in FIG. 9B. In this case, the region notcovered by the table cover 17 (hereinafter referred to as “replacementposition”) is formed, and hence the user can replace or add the reagentthrough such replacement position. In other words, the user takes outthe first container rack 13 and the second container rack 14 through thereplacement position, replaces or adds the reagent, and then again setsthe container rack in the reagent table. Alternatively, the userreplaces or adds the reagent directly to the reagent container 200arranged in the container rack.

After the reagent is replaced or added, the user closes the table cover17 and also closes the cover 37. After the cover 37 is closed, the CPU301 controls the lock mechanism 37 a to again lock the cover 37.

Subsequently, the reagent information is registered to the reagentinformation table with respect to the reagent container positioned atthe replacement position of the first reagent table 11 and the secondreagent table 12. This operation is similar to the registering operationof the reagent information described above other than that all reagentcontainers of the first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12are not the target, and the reagent container positioned at thereplacement position of the first reagent table 11 and the secondreagent table 12 is the target, and hence the description will beomitted.

<Sample Analyzing Operation>

In the sample analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment, each ofthe first sample dispensing unit 21, the second sample dispensing unit22, the first reagent dispensing unit 23, the second reagent dispensingunit 24, and the third reagent dispensing unit 25 rotatably moves thepipette 21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 24 c, 25 c to immediately above the cuvette orthe reagent container 200 when dispensing the sample or the reagent, andthen lowers the pipette 21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 24 c, 25 c first by the firstspeed and then lowers the pipette 21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 24 c, 25 c by thesecond speed slower than the first speed from the middle to enter thedistal end of the pipette 21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 24 c, 25 c into the sampleor the reagent. The pipette 21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 24 c, 25 c can be loweredat high speed by carrying out the speed control of two stages, andfurthermore, the liquid surface can be accurately detected by loweringat low speed when the pipette distal end is in contact with the liquidsurface, so that the pipette is prevented from entering the liquiddeeply.

More specifically describing, in the first sample dispensing unit 21 andthe second sample dispensing unit 22, the pipette is lowered at highspeed by the first speed until the fixedly set speed switching height,and then the pipette is lowered at low speed by the second speed on thelower side of the speed switching height.

In the first reagent dispensing unit 23, the second reagent dispensingunit 24, and the third reagent dispensing unit 25, the pipette islowered at high speed by the first speed up to the variable speedswitching height set according to the level of the reagent liquidsurface, and then the pipette is lowered at low speed by the secondspeed on the lower side of the speed switching height. That is, the CPU301 detects the position (hereinafter referred to as “liquid level”) inthe up and down direction of the pipette when the liquid surface of thereagent is detected by the liquid surface sensor unit 323, sets theposition on the upper side of the liquid level by a predetermineddistance as the speed switching height, and executes the operationdescribed above when dispensing the reagent. Therefore, the distance oflowering the pipette at the first speed can be made as large aspossible, so that the dispensing operation can be carried out at as highspeed as possible.

The liquid level of the reagent can be obtained by subtracting theheight corresponding to the aspiration amount of the reagent from theliquid level of when the liquid surface is detected in the previousreagent dispensing operation. Thus, the high speed reagent dispensingoperation can be continuously carried out next and subsequent timesafter the reagent dispensing is carried out once. However, after thesample analyzer 1 is shut down, the reagent set in the first reagenttable and the second reagent table is moved to the refrigerator, or thelike and may be stored therein until the sample analyzer 1 is used thenext time. Furthermore, the reagent taken out from the sample analyzer 1may be replaced with a new reagent or the reagent may be added to thereagent container. Therefore, the amount of reagent in each reagentcontainer may not be the same as the amount of reagent of when thesample analyzer is shut down the previous time immediately after thesample analyzer 1 is started up. Even if the sample analyzer 1 isoperating, the reagent at the replacement position that may be replacedor added by the user with the table cover 17 opened of the reagents setin the first reagent table and the second reagent table may be subjectedto replacement or addition of reagent after the replacement or theaddition of the reagent is carried out, and thus the amount thereof maynot be the same as the amount of reagent of before the reagentreplacement operation. That is, the liquid level of the reagent isunknown in the reagent container accommodating the relevant reagent.Therefore, immediately after the start up, the sample analyzer 1 firstexecutes the operation (hereinafter referred to as “initial liquid leveldetection operation”) for detecting the liquid level of the reagent forthe reagent corresponding to the measurement item included in theaccepted measurement order of all the reagents set in the first reagenttable and the second reagent table, and acquires the liquid level of thereagent. Furthermore, the sample analyzer 1 sets the speed switchingheight based on the liquid level detected in such manner, andthereafter, lowers the pipette in the above manner using the set speedswitching height to aspirate the reagent. Immediately after the reagentreplacement operation is terminated, the sample analyzer 1 firstexecutes the initial liquid level detection operation for the reagentcorresponding to the measurement item included in the receivedmeasurement order of all the reagents at the replacement position of thetable cover 17 during the execution of the reagent replacementoperation, sets the speed switching height based on the detected liquidlevel, and thereafter, lowers the pipette as described above using theset speed switching height to aspirate the reagent.

The sample analyzing operation will be specifically described below.FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU 401of the information processing device 3 in the sample analyzingoperation, and FIGS. 10B and 10C are flowcharts showing the processingprocedure of the CPU 301 of the measurement device 2 in the sampleanalyzing operation.

First, the CPU 401 of the information processing device 3 determineswhether or not the measurement order is registered and the instructionto start the measurement is received (step S201). The criterion in thisprocess is whether or not the measurement order input from the user isregistered and the instruction to start the measurement is received fromthe user through the input unit 408 when the user directly inputs themeasurement order to the sample analyzer 1, and whether or not thesample rack 60 is transported by the transport unit 50, the sample IDread by the sample barcode 52 from the sample container 61 accommodatedin the sample rack 60 is transmitted from the information processingdevice 3 to the server device, and the information processing device 3received the measurement order corresponding to the sample ID from theserver device when receiving the measurement order from the server.

If the criterion in step S201 is not satisfied (NO in step S201), theCPU 401 proceeds the process to step S206. If the criterion in step S201is satisfied (YES in step S201), the CPU 401 creates a list of reagentcontainers to become the target of the initial liquid level detectionoperation (step S202). In this process, a list of holding positions ofthe reagent containers accommodating the reagent corresponding to themeasurement item included in the received measurement order is created,the reagent container accommodating the reagent in which “0” is set forthe liquid level information storage flag in the second reagentinformation database 600, that is, the reagent in which the liquid levelinformation is not stored in the first reagent information database 500.That is, if the sample analysis is carried out for the first time afterthe sample analyzer 1 is started, the reagent container accommodatingthe reagent corresponding to the measurement item included in thereceived measurement order of all the reagents set in the first reagenttable and the second reagent table will be contained in the list. If thesample analysis is carried out after the termination of the reagentreplacement operation, the reagent container accommodating the reagentcorresponding to the measurement item included in the receivedmeasurement order of all the reagents at the replacement position of thetable cover 17 during the execution of the reagent replacement operationwill be contained in the list. The list contains information on theholding position at where the reagent container to be subjected to theinitial liquid level detection operation is held.

The CPU 401 transmits the schedule creating instruction data to themeasurement device 2 (step S203). The hard disc 404 stores informationon the protocol (amount of sample, warming time of sample, type ofreagent, amount, etc.) of the sample measurement for every measurementitem. The CPU 401 reads out the information on the protocolcorresponding to the measurement item included in the receivedmeasurement order from the hard disc 404, and generates the schedulecreating instruction data while corresponding the sample ID and themeasurement protocol information. The schedule creating instruction dataalso includes a list of reagent containers created in step S202.

The CPU 401 determines whether or not the liquid level informationstorage notification data to be described later is received from themeasurement device 2 (step S204), and changes the liquid levelinformation storage flag corresponding to the reagent which liquid levelinformation is stored in the first reagent information database 500 to“1” (step S205) in the second reagent information database 600 based onthe liquid level information storage notification data if the liquidlevel information storage notification data is received (YES in stepS204). The CPU 401 thereafter proceeds the process to step S206. If theliquid level information storage notification data is not received instep S204 (NO in step S204), the CPU 401 proceeds the process to stepS206.

In step S206, the CPU 401 determines whether or not the instruction toshutdown is received from the user (step S206), and returns the processto step S201 if the instruction to shutdown is not received (NO in stepS206). If the instruction to shutdown is received (YES in step S206),the CPU 401 terminates the process.

The processes of the CPU 301 of the measurement device 2 will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C. The CPU 301 of themeasurement device 2 waits for the reception of the schedule creatinginstruction data (NO in step S301), and the CPU 301 creates the scheduleof the sample measurement (step S302) when the measurement device 2receives the schedule creating instruction data (YES in step S301).

FIG. 11 is a timing chart partially showing one example of the schedulefor sample measurement. As shown in the figure, the schedule for samplemeasurement is created by assigning the operation to be executed forevery continuous turn divided by a predetermined time interval (e.g.nine seconds). The CPU 301 assigns the initial liquid level detectionoperation in the first few turns of the schedule based on the list ofreagent containers to be subjected to the initial liquid level detectionoperation included in the schedule creating instruction data. In theexample of FIG. 11, the first reagent dispensing unit 23 is scheduled toexecute the initial liquid level detection operation in the first tothird turns, and the second reagent dispensing unit 24 and the thirdreagent dispensing unit 25 are respectively scheduled to execute theinitial liquid level detection operation in the first to fifth turns.

In this example, the measurement of the measurement items PT and APTT isinstructed for each sample of sample number 1 to 3. For the sample ofsample number 1, the primary dispensing (dispensing of the sample fromthe sample container 61 to the cuvette held in the cuvette table 15 bythe first sample dispensing unit 21) of the sample is scheduled in thefirst to fourth turns, the secondary dispensing (dispensing of thesample from the cuvette held in the cuvette table 15 to the cuvette setin the cuvette transport unit 32 by the second sample dispensing unit22) of the sample for the PT is scheduled in the second to third turns,and the secondary dispensing of the sample for the APTT is scheduled inthe third to fourth turns. For the sample for PT, the warming of thesample is scheduled in the fourth to sixth turns, the dispensing of thePT reagent to the sample is scheduled in the seventh turn, and theoptical measurement is scheduled in the eighth to eleventh turns. Forthe sample for APTT, the warming of the sample is scheduled in the fifthturn, the dispensing of the APTT reagent to the sample is scheduled inthe sixth turn, the second warming of the sample is scheduled in theseventh and eighth turns, the dispensing of calcium chloride solution tothe sample is scheduled in the ninth turn, and the optical measurementis scheduled in the tenth to thirteenth turns. The schedule similar tothe sample number 1 is scheduled to start a few turns afterwards for thesample of sample number 2, and the schedule similar to the sample number1 is scheduled to start another few turns afterwards for the sample ofsample number 3.

Therefore, a plurality of operations is executed simultaneously inparallel in the measurement device 2. For instance, the liquid leveldetection operation by the first reagent dispensing unit 23, the liquidlevel detection operation by the second reagent dispensing unit 24, theliquid level detection operation by the third reagent dispensing unit25, the primary dispensing operation for the sample of sample number 1,and the like are executed in parallel. The CPU 301 creates the scheduleso that the same mechanism portion (e.g., first reagent dispensing unit23) is not used in two operations in the same turn and so that theentire measurement operation of the sample is terminated in as fewnumbers of turns as possible.

The liquid level detection operation is assigned to the turn before theturn to which the dispensing operation of the reagent is assigned first.In the example of FIG. 11 as well, the liquid surface detectionoperation is terminated in the fifth turn, and is scheduled in the turnbefore the dispensing operation (sixth turn) of the APTT reagent of thesample number 1 or the first reagent dispensing operation. Thus, thespeed switching height based on the liquid level information can be setfrom the first reagent dispensing, and the efficiency of the reagentdispensing operation can be realized. If the initial liquid leveldetection operation is not completed before the first reagent dispensingoperation, the schedule is created such that the first reagentdispensing operation is shifted to after the initial liquid leveldetection operation.

The sample measurement schedule created in the above manner is stored inthe hard disc 304.

After creating the sample measurement schedule, the CPU 301 starts themeasurement of the sample. First, the CPU 301 sets 1 to the variable Tindicating the current turn (step S303). The CPU 301 then references thecreated schedule and determines whether or not the current turn is theturn assigned with the initial liquid level detection operation (stepS304). If the current turn is the turn assigned with the initial liquidlevel detection operation (YES in step S304), the CPU 301 starts theinitial liquid level detection control process (step S305), and proceedsthe process to step S306. If the current turn is not the turn assignedwith the initial liquid level detection operation (NO in step S304), theCPU 301 proceeds the process to step S306.

In step S306, the CPU 301 references the created schedule and determineswhether or not the current turn is the turn assigned with the sampledispensing operation (primary dispensing or secondary dispensing ofsample) (step S306). If the current turn is the turn assigned with thesample dispensing operation (YES in step S306), the CPU 301 starts thesample dispensing control process (step S307) and proceeds the processto step S308. If the current turn is not the turn assigned with thesample dispensing operation (NO in step S306), the CPU 301 proceeds theprocess to step S308.

In step S308, the CPU 301 references the created schedule and determineswhether or not the current turn is the turn assigned with the reagentdispensing operation (step S308). If the current turn is the turnassigned with the reagent dispensing operation (YES in step S308), theCPU 301 starts the reagent dispensing control process (step S309) andproceeds the process to step S310. If the current turn is not the turnassigned with the reagent dispensing operation (NO in step S308), theCPU 301 proceeds the process to step S310.

In step S310, the CPU 301 references the created schedule and determineswhether or not the current turn is the turn assigned with the operation(other operation) other than the initial liquid surface detectionoperation, the sample dispensing operation, and the reagent dispensingoperation (step S310). If the current turn is the turn assigned with theother operation (YES in step S310), the CPU 301 starts the unit controlprocess for realizing the other operation (step S311) and proceeds theprocess to step S312. If the current turn is not the turn assigned withthe other operation (NO in step S310), the CPU 301 proceeds the processto step S312.

The initial liquid level detection control process can be executed inparallel to the sample dispensing control process and the unit controlprocess. Since the initial liquid level detection operation and thereagent dispensing operation are not assigned to the same turn, theinitial liquid level detection control process will not be executed inparallel to the reagent dispensing control process.

In step S312, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the last turn of thecreated schedule is reached (step S312). If the last turn is not reached(NO in step S312), the CPU 301 waits until the current turn isterminated (i.e., until nine seconds have elapsed from the start of theturn) (step S313), increments the value of the variable indicating thecurrent turn by 1 (step S314), and returns the process to step S304. Ifthe last turn is reached in step S312 (YES in step S312), the CPU 301terminates the process.

The details of the initial liquid level detection control process willnow be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of theinitial liquid level detection control process. First, the CPU 301references the sample measurement schedule, and specifies the reagentcontainer to be executed with the initial liquid level detectionoperation in the current turn, and the reagent dispensing unit forexecuting the initial liquid level detection operation with respect tothe relevant reagent container (step S401). The CPU 301 then controlsthe reagent table stepping motor unit 311 and the dispensing unitstepping motor unit 312 to position the pipette of the specified reagentdispensing unit immediately above the target reagent container (stepS402).

The CPU 301 then controls the dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312and lowers the pipette of the specified reagent dispensing unit at thefirst speed (step S403). The CPU 301 monitors the output signal from thedispensing unit rotary encoder unit 322, and determines whether or notthe pipette reached the fixed speed switching height stored in the harddisc 304 (step S404). If the pipette has not reached the speed switchingheight (NO in step S404), the CPU 301 repeats the process of step S404until the pipette reaches the speed switching height. The fixed speedswitching height stored in the hard disc 304 in step S404 is set so asto be a sufficiently distant position even from the highest liquidsurface of the reagent accommodated in the reagent container.

If the pipette reached the speed switching height (YES in step S404),the CPU 301 controls the dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312, andlowers the pipette of the specified reagent dispensing unit at thesecond speed slower than the first speed (step S405). The CPU 301further monitors the output signal from the liquid surface sensor unit323, and determines whether or not the distal end of the pipette iscontacting the liquid surface (step S406). If the distal end of thepipette is not contacting the liquid surface (NO in step S406), the CPU301 repeats the process of step S406 until the distal end of the pipettecontacts the liquid surface.

If the distal end of the pipette is contacting the liquid surface (YESin step S406), the CPU 301 stores the count value (value reflecting theliquid level at the time point) of the rotary encoder corresponding tothe pipette of when the distal end of the pipette contacts the liquidsurface in the record corresponding to the reagent container of thefirst reagent information database 500 as the liquid level informationby the output signal from the dispensing unit rotary encoder unit 322(step S407). Thereafter, the CPU 301 transmits the liquid levelinformation storage notification data indicating that the liquid levelinformation is stored for the relevant reagent to the informationprocessing device 3 (step S408). Furthermore, the CPU 301 controls thedispensing unit stepping motor unit 312 to raise the pipette of thespecified reagent dispensing unit (step S409) and terminates theprocess.

The sample dispensing control process will now be described in detail.FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the sample dispensingcontrol process. First, the CPU 301 controls the dispensing unitstepping motor unit 312 to position the pipette 21 c of the first sampledispensing unit 21 immediately above the sample container 61 of thesample aspirating position 53 of the transport region of the transportpath 51 or to position the pipette 22 c of the second sample dispensingunit 22 immediately above the cuvette at the sample aspirating position19 of the cuvette table 15 (step S501).

Then, the CPU 301 controls the dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312to lower the pipette 21 c of the first sample dispensing unit 21 or thepipette 22 c of the second sample dispensing unit 22 at the first speed(step S502). The CPU 301 monitors the output signal from the dispensingunit rotary encoder unit 322, and determines whether or not the pipettereached the fixed speed switching height stored in the hard disc 304(step S503). If the pipette has not reached the speed switching height(NO in step S503), the CPU 301 repeats the process of step S503 untilthe pipette reaches the speed switching height. The fixed speedswitching height stored in the hard disc 304 in step S503 is set so asto be a sufficiently distant position even from the highest liquidsurface of the reagent accommodated in the sample container.

If the pipette reached the speed switching height (YES in step S503),the CPU 301 controls the dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312 tolower the pipette 21 c of the first sample dispensing unit 21 or thepipette 22 c of the second sample dispensing unit 22 at the second speedslower than the first speed (step S504). The CPU 301 further monitorsthe output signal from the liquid surface sensor unit 323, anddetermines whether or not the distal end of the pipette is contactingthe liquid surface (step S505). If the distal end of the pipette is notcontacting the liquid surface (NO in step S505), the CPU 301 repeats theprocess of step S505 until the distal end of the pipette contacts theliquid surface.

If the distal end of the pipette is contacting the liquid surface (YESin step S505), the CPU 301 controls the dispensing unit stepping motorunit 312 so as to further lower the pipette to the depth correspondingto the dispensing amount of the sample (step S506), and thereaftercauses the pipette to aspirate the sample (step S507). After theaspiration of the sample is completed, the CPU 301 controls thedispensing unit stepping motor unit 312 to move the pipette 21 c of thefirst sample dispensing unit 21 to the cuvette at the sample dischargingposition 18 or to move the pipette 22 c of the second sample dispensingunit 22 to the cuvette held at the cuvette transport unit 32 (stepS508). The CPU 301 then causes the pipette 21 c of the first sampledispensing unit 21 or the pipette 22 c of the second sample dispensingunit 22 to discharge the sample to the cuvette (step S509), andterminates the process.

The reagent dispensing control process will now be described in detail.FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the reagent dispensingcontrol process. First, the CPU 301 controls the reagent table steppingmotor unit 311 and the dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312 toposition the pipette 23 c of the first reagent dispensing unit 23, thepipette 24 c of the second reagent dispensing unit 24, or the pipette 25c of the third reagent dispensing unit 25 immediately above the reagentcontainer accommodating the reagent to be aspirated (step S601).

The CPU 301 then monitors the output signal from the dispensing unitrotary encoder unit 322, reads out the liquid level information of thereagent to be aspirated stored in the first reagent information database500, and sets the height on the upper side by a predetermined distancefrom the liquid level of the relevant reagent as the speed switchingheight (step S602). The CPU 301 controls the dispensing unit steppingmotor unit 312 to lower the pipette 23 c of the first reagent dispensingunit 23, the pipette 24 c of the second reagent dispensing unit 24, orthe pipette 25 c of the third reagent dispensing unit 25 at the firstspeed (step S603), and determines whether or not the pipette reached thespeed switching height set in step S602 (step S604). If the pipette hasnot reached the speed switching height (NO in step S604), the CPU 301repeats the process of step S604 until the pipette reaches the speedswitching height. The speed switching height set in step S602 is set toa position closer to the liquid surface than the fixed speed switchingheight stored in the hard disc 304 in step S404.

If the pipette reached the speed switching height (YES in step S604),the CPU 301 controls the dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312, andlowers the pipette 23 c of the first reagent dispensing unit 23, thepipette 24 c of the second reagent dispensing unit 24, or the pipette 25c of the third reagent dispensing unit 25 at the second speed slowerthan the first speed (step S605). The CPU 301 further monitors theoutput signal from the liquid surface sensor unit 323, and determineswhether or not the distal end of the pipette is contacting the liquidsurface (step S606). If the distal end of the pipette is not contactingthe liquid surface (NO in step S606), the CPU 301 repeats the process ofstep S606 until the distal end of the pipette contacts the liquidsurface.

If the distal end of the pipette is contacting the liquid surface (YESin step S606), the CPU 301 stores the result (value reflecting theliquid level after reagent aspiration) of adding the value correspondingto the reagent aspiration amount to the count value (value reflectingthe liquid level at the relevant time point) of the rotary encodercorresponding to the pipette of when the distal end of the pipettecontacts the liquid surface in the record corresponding to the reagentcontainer of the first reagent information table as the liquid levelinformation by the output signal from the dispensing unit rotary encoderunit 322 (step S607).

The CPU 301 then controls the dispensing unit stepping motor unit 312 tofurther lower the pipette to the depth corresponding to the dispensingamount of the reagent (step S608), and thereafter causes the pipette toaspirate the reagent (step S609). After the aspiration of the reagent iscompleted, the CPU 301 controls the dispensing unit stepping motor unit312 to move the pipette 23 c of the first reagent dispensing unit 23,the pipette 24 c of the second reagent dispensing unit 24, or thepipette 25 c of the third reagent dispensing unit 25 to the targetcuvette (step S610). The CPU 301 further causes the pipette 23 c of thefirst reagent dispensing unit 23, the pipette 24 c of the second reagentdispensing unit 24, or the pipette 25 c of the third reagent dispensingunit 25 to discharge the reagent to the cuvette (step S611), andterminates the process.

According to the configuration described above, the sample analyzer 1according to the present embodiment acquires the accurate liquid levelof the reagent when dispensing the reagent even immediately after thestartup of the sample analyzer 1 or after replacement or addition of thereagent, and can lower the aspirating tube to the position close to theliquid surface at high speed. Thus, the reagent dispensing operation canbe efficiently carried out. Furthermore, the entire operation of thesample analyzer 1 can be efficiently carried out since the initialliquid level detection operation is carried out in parallel with otheroperations such as sample dispensing operation and warming operation.

Other Embodiments

In the above described embodiment, a configuration of executing theinitial liquid level detection operation only on the reagentcorresponding to the measurement item contained in the measurement orderreceived by the sample analyzer 1 of the reagents not used in the samplemeasurement after the sample analyzer 1 is started up has beendescribed, but this is not the sole case. The initial liquid leveldetection operation may be executed on all the reagents not used in thesample measurement after the sample analyzer 1 is started up.

In the above described embodiment, a configuration of executing theinitial liquid level detection operation after the measurement device 2of the sample analyzer 1 starts the sample measurement operation hasbeen described, but this is not the sole case. The initial liquid leveldetection operation may be incorporated in the initial operation of themeasurement device 2, or the initial liquid level detection operationmay be executed when the measurement device 2 is in the standby statecapable of starting the measurement of the sample.

In the above described embodiment, the lowering speed to the speedswitching height of the pipette 21 c of the first sample dispensing unit21 and the pipette 22 c of the second sample dispensing unit 22 in thesample dispensing operation, and the lowering speed to the speedswitching height of the pipette 23 c of the first reagent dispensingunit 23, the pipette 24 c of the second reagent dispensing unit 24, andthe pipette 25 c of the third reagent dispensing unit 25 in the reagentdispensing operation are both set to the first speed, but this is notthe sole case. The lowering speed to the speed switching height of thepipette 21 c of the first sample dispensing unit 21 and the pipette 22 cof the second sample dispensing unit 22 in the sample dispensingoperation may be a third speed different from the first speed. Thelowering speed to the lower side than the speed switching height of thepipette 21 c of the first sample dispensing unit 21 and the pipette 22 cof the second sample dispensing unit 22 in the sample dispensingoperation, and the lowering speed to the lower side than the speedswitching height of the pipette 23 c of the first reagent dispensingunit 23, the pipette 24 c of the second reagent dispensing unit 24, andthe pipette 25 c of the third reagent dispensing unit 25 in the reagentdispensing operation are both set to the second speed, but this is notthe sole case. The lowering speed to the lower side than the speedswitching height of the pipette 21 c of the first sample dispensing unit21 and the pipette 22 c of the second sample dispensing unit 22 in thesample dispensing operation may be a fourth speed different from thesecond speed. In this case, however, the efficient sample dispensingoperation cannot be carried out unless the fourth speed is a speedslower than the third speed.

In the above described embodiment, a configuration in which the liquidlevel information indicating the liquid level of the reagent is storedin the first reagent information database 500, the height on the upperside of the liquid level indicated by the liquid level information by apredetermined distance is set as the speed switching height, and thelowering speed of the pipette is switched at the speed switching heighthas been described, but this is not the sole case. The speed switchingheight may be obtained from the liquid level detected in the initialliquid level detecting operation or the reagent dispensing operation,the speed switching height may be stored in the first reagentinformation database 500, and the speed switching height may be readfrom the first reagent information database 500 to switch the loweringspeed of the pipette at the speed switching height in the reagentdispensing operation of next time. Furthermore, the liquid levelinformation indicating the liquid level of the reagent when the liquidsurface is detected in the reagent dispensing operation of the previoustime may be stored in the first reagent information database, the liquidlevel indicated by the liquid level information may be set to the speedswitching height, and the lowering speed of the pipette may be switchedat the relevant speed switching height.

In the above described embodiment, a configuration in which the loweringspeed of the pipette is changed in two stages in the sample dispensingoperation and the reagent dispensing operation has been described, butthis is not the sole case. For instance, a configuration of switchingthe speed in multi-stages of three or more stages may be adopted so asto lowering the pipette at the first speed at the initial stage oflowering of the pipette, lower the pipette at the second speed slowerthan the first speed at the intermediate stage of lowering of thepipette, and lowering the pipette at the third speed slower than thesecond speed at the last stage of lowering of the pipette, or aconfiguration of smoothly changing the lowering speed of the pipettefrom the first speed to the second speed may be adopted.

In the above described embodiment, a configuration of detecting that thedistal end of the pipette contacted the liquid surface using the contacttype liquid surface detection sensor has been adopted, but this is notthe sole case. A configuration of detecting the liquid level using thenon-contact type liquid surface sensor such as ultrasonic wave type maybe adopted.

In the above described embodiment, a configuration in which the sampleanalyzer 1 separately includes the measurement device 2 for measuringthe sample and the information processing device 3 for data processingthe measurement result obtained by the measurement device 2 andobtaining the analysis result has been adopted, but this is not the solecase. The sample analyzer 1 having a configuration in which bothfunctions of the measurement device 2 and the information processingdevice 3 are arranged in one housing may be adopted. In this case, theprocesses executed by the CPU 301 of the measurement device 2 and theCPU 401 of the information processing device 3 may be executed by oneCPU.

In the above described embodiment, the sample analyzer 1 is a bloodcoagulation measurement device, but is not limited thereto. Aconfiguration of detecting the liquid level of the reagent by theinitial liquid level detecting operation, storing the informationrelated to the liquid level, and lowering the pipette while switchingspeed based on the stored liquid level when dispensing the reagent maybe adopted in a sample analyzer other than the blood coagulationmeasurement device such as a blood cell counting device, an immuneanalyzer, a urine formed element analyzer, or a urine qualitativeanalyzer.

In the above described embodiment, an example where the liquid leveldetection operation by the first reagent dispensing unit 23, the liquidlevel detection operation by the second reagent dispensing unit 24, theliquid level detection operation by the third reagent dispensing unit25, the primary dispensing operation for the sample of sample number 1,and the like are executed in parallel has been described as an exampleof a schedule for sample measurement, but this is not the sole case. Forinstance, the dispensing of the reagent by the second reagent dispensingunit 24 may be executed while executing the liquid level detectionoperation by the first reagent dispensing unit 23. Furthermore, theoptical measurement may be executed while executing the liquid leveldetection operation by the first reagent dispensing unit 23.

In the above described embodiment, a configuration in which the liquidlevel of the reagent acquired by the initial liquid level detectionoperation when dispensing the reagent is used to lower the aspiratingtube at high speed up to the position close to the liquid surface andperform the reagent dispensing operation has been described, but this isnot the sole case. The liquid level of the sample acquired by executingthe initial liquid level detection operation on the sample may be usedto lower the aspirating tube at high speed up to the position close tothe liquid surface and perform the sample dispensing operation.

The sample analyzer 1 may include an open/close detector 37 b fordetecting an opening and a closing of the cover 37. The control unit 300executes the liquid surface detection with respect to the reagent in thereagent container 200 held in the container holder in response to theclosing of the cover 37 being detected by the open/close detector 37 b.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a sample analyzer,comprising: receiving an input that a reagent is to be replaced or addedonto a reagent container holder of the sample analyzer; unlocking acover of the reagent container holder to make the cover openable suchthat the reagent container holder is capable of being partially exposedby opening the cover; detecting an opening and a closing of the cover;receiving a measurement order including one or more measurement items;determining, in response to detecting the closing of the cover, based onthe received measurement order, at least one target reagent container,wherein one or more reagent containers corresponding to the one or moremeasurement items included in the received measurement order, out ofreagent containers located in an exposed area of the reagent containerholder while the cover is open, are determined to be the at least onetarget reagent container; and detecting, in response to determining theat least one target reagent container, a liquid surface of a reagentcontained in the at least one target reagent container to obtain liquidlevel information corresponding to the at least one target reagentcontainer while the sample analyzer warms a sample by a warming table ofthe sample analyzer.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising aspirating a part or all of the reagent from the at least onetarget reagent container after detecting the liquid surface of thereagent contained in the determined at least one target reagentcontainer.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingstoring the liquid level information corresponding to the at least onetarget reagent container based on detecting the liquid surface of thereagent contained in the at least one target reagent container.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein detecting the liquid surface of thereagent contained in the at least one target reagent container comprisesdetecting by a liquid surface detector.
 5. The method according to claim4, wherein the liquid surface detector comprises a contact type liquidsurface detector.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the sampleanalyzer comprises an aspirating tube, and the contact type liquidsurface detector detects contact between the aspirating tube and theliquid surface of the reagent contained in the at least one targetreagent container.
 7. The method according to claim 4, furthercomprising lowering an aspirating tube with respect to the liquidsurface of the reagent contained in the at least one target reagentcontainer, wherein the liquid surface detector comprises the aspiratingtube, and detecting the liquid surface of the reagent contained in theat least one target reagent container comprises detecting the liquidsurface of the reagent contained in the at least one target reagentcontainer through contact between the aspirating tube and the liquidsurface of the reagent contained in the at least one target reagentcontainer.
 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprisingaspirating a part or all of the reagent from the at least one targetreagent container after detecting the liquid surface of the reagentcontained in the determined at least one target reagent container. 9.The method according to claim 8, wherein lowering the aspirating tubewith respect to the liquid surface of the reagent contained in the atleast one target reagent container comprises lowering the aspiratingtube with respect to the liquid surface of the reagent contained in theat least one target reagent container after detecting the liquid surfaceof the reagent contained in the at least one target reagent container,and aspirating the part or all of the reagent from the at least onetarget reagent container comprises aspirating the part or all of thereagent from the at least one target reagent container after loweringthe aspirating tube.
 10. A sample analyzer, comprising: a reagentcontainer holder configured to hold a plurality of reagent containers; acover of the reagent container holder, an open/close detector fordetecting an opening and a closing of the cover, a reagent aspiratingunit comprising an aspirating tube configured to aspirate a reagent froma reagent container held by the reagent container holder and an actuatorconfigured to move the aspirating tube in an up direction and a downdirection; a liquid surface detector configured to detect a liquidsurface of the reagent in the reagent container held by the reagentcontainer holder; a drive unit; a warming table; a memory; and acontroller comprising a processor configured with a program to performoperations comprising: receiving an input that a reagent is to bereplaced or added onto the reagent container holder; causing the coverto be unlocked to make the cover openable such that the reagentcontainer holder can be partially exposed by opening the cover;recognizing the closing of the cover through the open/close detector;receiving a measurement order including one or more measurement items;determining, in response to the closing of the cover, in response to thereceived measurement order, at least one target reagent container fromthe plurality of reagent containers held by the reagent containerholder, wherein one or more reagent containers corresponding to the oneor more measurement items included in the received measurement order,out of reagent containers located in an exposed area of the reagentcontainer holder while the cover is open, are determined to be the atleast one target reagent container; controlling, in response todetermining the at least one target reagent container, the liquidsurface detector to detect a liquid surface of a target reagent in thedetermined at least one target reagent container while the sampleanalyzer warms a sample by the warming table; and controlling thereagent aspirating unit to aspirate the target reagent from the at leastone target reagent container after detecting the liquid surface of thetarget reagent.
 11. The sample analyzer according to claim 10, whereinthe controller is configured to perform operations further comprisingstoring, in the memory, liquid level information corresponding to the atleast one target reagent container based on detecting the liquid surfaceof the target reagent in the at least one target reagent container. 12.The sample analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the liquid surfacedetector is a contact type liquid surface detector.
 13. The sampleanalyzer according to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured toperform operations further comprising: controlling the reagentaspirating unit so as to lower the aspirating tube with respect to aliquid surface of a target reagent for which liquid level information isnot stored in the memory to detect the liquid surface of the targetreagent in the at least one target reagent container; storing, in thememory, the liquid level information based on detecting the liquidsurface of the target reagent in the at least one target reagentcontainer; and controlling the reagent aspirating unit to aspirate thetarget reagent from the at least one target reagent container afterstoring the liquid level information.